Liverpool continue their top-four chase with a home clash against Brentford at Anfield.
Victory would see fifth-placed Liverpool move to within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United, whilst Brentford will stay ninth no matter the outcome.
Team News
Thiago Alcantara is ruled out for Liverpool for the remainder of this season after needing surgery on a hip injury, which forced him to miss their midweek win against Fulham.
Diogo Jota (back/rib) and Jordan Henderson (knock) are doubts for this game.
Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino (both muscle), Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) remain absent.
Brentford could welcome Thomas Strakosha and Kristoffer Ajer back from calf injuries.
Pontus Jansson (hamstring), Christian Norgaard (Achilles) and Keane Lewis-Potter (knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off
Liverpool host Brentford at Anfield in a 5:30pm BST kick-off on Saturday 6 May, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in two of their three previous Premier League meetings against Brentford (W1, D1, L1).
- Brentford lost 3-0 in their only previous Premier League visit to Anfield in January 2022 (L1).
- All three Premier League meetings have seen both Liverpool and Brentford score three goals on two occasions apiece.
- No Liverpool player has made a last-man tackle this season in the Premier League.
- Ivan Toney has played more through balls this season than any other Brentford player in the Premier League, having created 12 through ball passes in 32 appearances.
Prediction
Having survived a scrappy contest against Brentford’s neighbours – Fulham in midweek courtesy of a controversial penalty just days after scraping past Tottenham, Liverpool certainly have rode their luck in the past week especially after a wasteful attacking display against the Cottagers.
My instinct therefore is questioning whether a third win at home over a London-based club in six days would be a slice of luck for Liverpool, or whether Brentford will do what Spurs and Fulham failed to do and actually take points off Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
Brentford however did look fatigued at times against Nottingham Forest but defensively managed well against Forest’s high-energy attacks, before finally hitting their top gear in the final stages to clinically complete a comeback win.
Thomas Frank’s Bees though can’t afford any sloppy play at Anfield and after last weekend’s antics, I do expect them to be back at full focus given that they’ve had a week of preparation unlike Liverpool, although both teams have their own defensive issues to deal with.
Nevertheless, I do expect a tough battle like back in West London in January but this time a draw feels a solid bet.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Brentford
Result: Liverpool 1-0 Brentford
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